Conceptual Foundations of Quantum Mechanics

This book provides an introduction to the conceptual foundations of quantum mechanics, from classical mechanics and a discussion of the quantum phenomena that undermine our classical intuitions about how the physical world works, to the quantum measurement problem and alternatives to the standard von Neumann-Dirac formulation.

List of contents

• 1: Classical Mechanics


• 2: Quantum Phenomena


• 3: The Mathematics of Quantum Mechanics


• 4: The Standard Formulation of Quantum Mechanics


• 5: Quantum Interference


• 6: Real and/or Local


• 7: The Quantum Measurement Problem


• 8: The Collapse of the Quantum State


• 9: Pure Wave Mechanics


• 10: Many Worlds and Such


• 11: Bohmian Mechanics


• 12: Empirical Ontology and Explanation


• 13: A Formal Characterization of Hilbert Space

About the author

Jeffrey A. Barrett is Chancellor's Professor of Logic and Philosophy of Science at UC Irvine. His research involves the philosophy of physics, epistemology, and the philosophy of science more generally. Much of his research has concerned the history and conceptual foundations of quantum mechanics, particularly no-collapse formulations of quantum mechanics.

Summary

This book provides an introduction to the conceptual foundations of quantum mechanics, from classical mechanics and a discussion of the quantum phenomena that undermine our classical intuitions about how the physical world works, to the quantum measurement problem and alternatives to the standard von Neumann-Dirac formulation.

Additional text

an excellent introductory-level text for graduate students or advanced undergraduates . . . Barrett's book can serve either as an entry point for aspiring researchers or as a vehicle to make the foundations of quantum mechanics accessible to philosophers of all stripes.

Product details

• Authors: Jeffrey A. Barrett, Jeffrey A. (Chancellor''s Professor of Lo Barrett, Jeffrey A. (University of California Barrett, Barrett Jeffrey A.
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 31.12.2019
• EAN: 9780198844686
• ISBN: 978-0-19-884468-6
• No. of pages: 268
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Philosophy > General, dictionaries; Non-fiction book > Philosophy, religion > Philosophy: general, reference works; PHILOSOPHY / Logic, SCIENCE / Physics / Quantum Theory, SCIENCE / Philosophy & Social Aspects, Philosophy of Science, Quantum physics (quantum mechanics & quantum field theory), Quantum physics (quantum mechanics and quantum field theory), Philosophy: logic, quantum; mechanics